Author: Mobile Syrup

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Mobile Syrup

LCBO cybersecurity incident may have exposed credit card data, other personal info

Customers who purchased from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s (LCBO) website earlier this month may have had their personal information compromised by a bad actor.

The LCBO says a party “embedded malicious code” on its website that stole customer information during checkout.

“Customers who provided personal information on our check-out pages and proceeded to our payment page on LCBO.com between January 5th, 2023, and January 10th, 2023, may have had their information compromised,” the company said in a press release.

The incident may have impacted names, emails, mailing addresses, Aeroplan numbers, credit card information and passwords to online LCBO accounts. The organization didn’t share any further specifics of the incident.

Anyone who either attempted to place an order or successfully paid for one during the stated period should monitor their statements for suspicious payments.

LCBO says its website and mobile app are restored and operational. All account holders will have to update their passwords when logging in.

This is just the latest cybersecurity incident impacting a major Ontario organization. LockBit offered SickKids an apology on December 31st, claiming an associate impacted the hospital’s systems.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: LCBO

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Mobile Syrup

Koodo offering up to 40 percent off hotels through Booking.com for some customers

Telus flanker brand Koodo sent out emails to customers offering up to 40 percent off their next stay through Booking.com, although with several conditions.

When you click through the link to Booking.com and click the option to view the promotion details, the website lists the following conditions:

Booking.com details for Koodo promotion.

  • “Koodo savings feature prices from Rocket Travel that are lower than the crossed-out public rates available on Booking.com regardless of room category and cancellation policy.”
  • “Koodo savings are available only at select properties with Rocket Travel inventory.”
  • “All aspects of eligible Koodo savings bookings are handled by our trusted partner Rocket Travel.”

Beyond that, it’s a matter of sifting through Booking.com listings to actually find properties with Rocket Travel inventory. I did a few cursory checks (I’m not exactly looking to travel anytime soon) but when you do a search, Booking.com seems to highlight properties with special offers attached, including Rocket Travel stuff.

Screenshot of the Koodo x Booking.com email.

Humorously, Koodo uses the rest of the email to remind customers to use its ridiculously expensive Easy Roam feature while they travel and also plugs Telus Health MyCare, which is included free with Easy Roam while travelling in the U.S. (usually valued at $45 per call).

Anyway, if you’re a Koodo customer looking to travel, keep an eye out for the offer in your inbox.

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Mobile Syrup

Native Apple Music and Apple TV apps for Windows available now

At its annual Surface event in 2022, Microsoft announced that Windows users would soon be able to download native Apple TV and Apple Music applications on their Windows machines. Now, the first previews of the applications are starting to appear.

First reported by The Verifier, via MacRumours, the two applications are accompanied by an app called ‘Apple Devices,’ which allows users to manage and sync their Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads and iPods, directly from their Windows machines. Find the links for the native app previews below:

It’s worth noting that all three new native Apple apps require Windows 11 version 22621.0 or higher to be able to run. MobileSyrup hasn’t been able to download the applications as of yet. When trying to follow the links mentioned above, the application says it is only available on Xbox Series X/S and on Xbox One. However, other publications, including 9toMac and The Verge, were able to download the apps without an issue.

Further, Apple states in the app descriptions that some features may not function as intended as these are preview versions of the apps. The company also cautioned that installing these apps will prevent iTunes for Windows from opening, making other forms of content, such as audiobooks and podcasts, inaccessible until a compatible version of iTunes is released or the preview apps are uninstalled.

Are you able to download the native Apple app previews? Let us know in the comments below.

Image credits: Microsoft Store

Source: The Verifier, via MacRumours

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Mobile Syrup

Skagen Falster Gen 6 Wear OS 3 update starts rolling out

Fossil’s Gen 6 smartwatch received the much-anticipated Wear OS 3 update in October 2022, but owners of the Skagen Falster edition of the Gen 6 weren’t so lucky. Now, some Skagen Falster Gen 6 owners report the Wear OS 3 update is showing up.

As detailed by Android Police, Skagen Falster Gen 6 owners took to Reddit to share that the Wear OS 3 update was rolling out. So far it seems hit-or-miss, with some replies in the Reddit thread that the update hadn’t appeared yet.

The general consensus seems to be that you can manually force the update by heading to Settings > System > About > System Updates and repeatedly tapping the screen. Alternatively, some suggest power cycling the smartwatch to trigger the update. Neither of these have worked for my Skagen Falster Gen 6 so far, but hopefully, your luck is better than mine.

Of course, there are a few things to consider before you actually make the jump to Wear OS 3. First and foremost is that the update is a significant change — so much so, it requires completely wiping your smartwatch and setting it up from scratch again. Once the update is complete, you’ll need to use the Skagen Smartwatches app to pair the Gen 6 to their smartphone and set it up. That process might be too much of a hassle for some.

Coupled with some of the features people will lose by making the switch, it’s unsurprising some would rather stick with the older version of Wear OS. For example, Google Assistant is exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 series and Google’s Pixel Watch for now, so if you like having Assistant on your wrist, you may want to hold off on upgrading. Android Police also reports that the Wear OS 3 update is missing roughly half the watch faces available on the older software.

Those who do update will get a stock Wear OS experience with access to pre-installed Alexa, Spotify, Wellness, and Cardiogram apps.

Source: Reddit Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

New update for Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Watch Series elevates Galaxy camera performance

Samsung has announced a new software update for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Galaxy Watch series aimed at enhancing the content-capturing capabilities for Galaxy smartphone users.

Samsung’s Galaxy lineup of devices have always been known for their innovative photography and videography features, and the new Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Watch series updates look to take those capabilities to the next level.

360 Audio Recording

The update to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro brings 360 Audio Recording to the wireless earbuds, a feature that Samsung says will allow you to “Capture the World as You Hear it.”

By pairing the Galaxy Buds2 Pro with a Galaxy smartphone, your phone can use the microphone in each earbud to pick up 360-degree sound, allowing viewers of your video to experience a sense of immersion and true-t0-life audio that emulates an in-person experience.

The feature is made possible with LE audio, which is a new and advanced Bluetooth audio standard. “This new technology brings better audio quality as well as improved latency and battery life. Beyond providing better-sounding music, LE Audio also broadens the spectrum of audio experiences to deliver more complex and rich sound that can be shared with others,” wrote Samsung.

The feature will be available for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro when they’re paired with a Galaxy phone running One UI 5.0 or above with LE Audio support. Devices compatible include the Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and upcoming Galaxy smartphones.

Camera Controller

The other significant feature is part of the Galaxy Watch series update. The Camera Controller application allows users control their Galaxy phone camera right from their wrist. Now, after the update, the application includes zoom capabilities, enabling users to remotely control their phone’s camera zoom with a simple pinch of the watch face or turn of the rotating bezel.

This eliminates the need to set timers, or handing over your phone to a stranger when taking the perfect zoomed-in group photo from a distance.

The updated Camera Controller zoom control feature will be available on the Galaxy Watch5, Watch5 Pro, Watch4, and Watch4 Classic beginning February 2023.

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, where the company will detail its new flagship smartphones and new features coming to its earbuds and wearables, is scheduled for February 1st. Expect to see the new ‘Camera Controller’ zoom feature and ‘360 Audio Recording’ in action at the event. Read more about Galaxy Unpacked here.

Source: Samsung

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Mobile Syrup

Twitter says database of 200 million exposed email addresses, usernames, not part of system exploits

Twitter says reports of hundreds of leaked email addresses are unrelated to a 2021 breach.

Earlier this month, hackers shared a database with the usernames and email addresses of 200 million Twitter users, claiming the information came from breaches dating back to 2021.

“We conducted a thorough investigation, and there is no evidence that data recently being sold was obtained by exploiting a vulnerability of Twitter systems,” the company stated in a blog post.

Twitter says the data likely came together from public information that’s already available and “could not be correlated with the previously reported incident or any data originating from an exploitation of Twitter systems.”

Twitter updated its code in June 2021, resulting in a bug that would tell people what Twitter accounts were associated with specific email addresses and phone numbers. Twitter learned of the vulnerability in January 2022. While the bug impacted 5.4 million accounts in August 2022, no recent breaches of Twitter’s systems occurred.

Several cybersecurity analysts examined the breach, as The Verge reports, including Troy Hunt, the founder of Have I Been Pwned. The website allows people to search if their email addresses are part of data breaches.

Have I Been Pwned has now added the database to its website, and users can enter their emails to check if it’s part of the breach.

Even if the information on the 200 million accounts isn’t tied to a breach or includes any passwords, it is a cause for concern.

Twitter is asking its users to enable 2-factor authentication and remain observant of any emails. “Be wary of emails conveying a sense of urgency and emails requesting your private information, always double check that emails are coming from a legitimate Twitter source.”

Source: Twitter Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Another Ontario Tesla driver caught dozing behind the wheel

Back in September 2022, a video came out that showed a Tesla driver taking a nap behind the wheel with their seat reclined while their vehicle was going faster than 100 km/hr on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) in St. Catharines.

Similarly, a different Tesla Model S driver, in September 2020, was charged for being asleep behind the wheel while their vehicle was driving at speeds of 150 km/hr.

You’d imagine that Tesla drivers would be more careful, and avoid sleeping at the wheel after those instances, but you’d be wrong. Another Canadian Tesla driver has been filmed sleeping at the wheel, with full faith in their vehicle’s Autopilot feature.

A video posted on Toronto-based Instagram account ‘Cara De Shaukeen,’ shows a lone male driver in a blue Tesla apparently asleep behind the wheel while driving on Highway 401 near Bayview Avenue in Toronto. The driver’s eyes are closed, and his head is tilted back as though he is asleep, while the car seems to be driving itself in the middle lane next to other vehicles.

The person behind the ‘Cara De Shaukeen’ account clarified that the video was shot by a passenger in another vehicle, and not by the account owner themselves, as reported by BlogTO.

Tesla’s Autopilot feature is meant to assist drivers in maneuvering through the road, not take over complete control. While the feature supports adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, self-parking and more, drivers are supposed to stay attentive and have their hands on the steering wheel at all times when the mode is engaged.

Source: Cara De Shaukeen Via: BlogTO

In case the vehicle detects that the driver isn’t attentive, it asks the driver to put their hands on the steering wheel.

It is currently unknown if the driver of the Blue Testla would face any charges.

Source: carra_de_shaukeen, via: BlogTO

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung Galaxy S23 alleged official marketing pics show up online

We’re now seeing alleged official renderings of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series.

These renders, shared by Roland Quandt, look a bit different from what we’ve seen in the past and kind of make the device look like an iPhone when looking at it from the side. The device sports a metal frame combined with a glass cover in all variants. Quandt suggests that Samsung used aluminum for S23 and S23+.

We also don’t see any images of the S23+ or the S23 Ultra, only the base version, the S23. The device comes in ‘Phantom Black,’ ‘Botanic Green,’ ‘Mystic Lilac,’ and ‘Cotton Flower (white).’

Looking at the device from the rear, Samsung has removed the camera bump, so all we see are the lenses protruding from the back panel.

Quandt says that the device will sport a 6.11-inch OLED display with a full HD resolution and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

Samsung will reveal all three models on February 1st.

Images credit: WinFuture

Source: Roland Quandt (@rquandt), WinFuture

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Mobile Syrup

Koodo, Virgin up unlimited talk and text plan to $33/mo

Koodo and Virgin Plus have upped the monthly cost of their unlimited talk and text plans by $1. At $33/mo now, the plans are even worse value than before.

The unlimited talk and text plans are exactly as they sound — subscribers get unlimited minutes and unlimited texting, but data is pay-per-use (read: expensive). These plans are great for people who just need access to calling and texting, but for a while, the plans cost $32/mo, an arguably high price for what’s on offer. (It’s worth noting that back in January 2022, these plans cost about $30/mo).

Back in August 2022, Koodo, Virgin, and Fido briefly lowered their respective unlimited talk and text plans to $27/mo, a more acceptable price but still pricier than comparable plans from other budget brands.

After the Black Friday deals and before the Boxing Week deals, the three flanker brands put the unlimited talk and text plan back up to $32, and now Telus’ Koodo and Bell’s Virgin have pushed the plans to $33/mo. Fido, for now, remains at $32/mo.

Of course, there’s absolutely no reason to pay more than $30/mo for these plans when other providers offer talk and text for less. Telus flanker brand Public Mobile, Rogers flanker brand Chatr Mobile, and Bell flanker brand Lucky Mobile all offer a $25/mo unlimited talk and text plan with 1GB of data capped at 3G speed (technically, Chatr and Lucky offer 500MB and a bonus 500MB to customers who sign up for automatic payments for a combined 1GB).

Now, 1GB of data capped at 3G speed isn’t a lot, but if the goal is unlimited talk and text for a reasonable price, these are among the best value out there.

You can view Koodo’s plans here and Virgin’s plans here.

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Mobile Syrup

Twitter considers online auctions for usernames to increase revenue

Twitter is looking to boost its revenue by selling usernames through online auctions, suggests a The New York Times report.

The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, has reportedly been searching for new ways to generate income to make platform profitable, and had publicly stated that Twitter will start freeing “name space” of 1.5 billion accounts, back in December.

“These are obvious account deletions with no tweets and no log in for years,” he wrote at the time.

It’s worth noting that buying and selling desirable Twitter usernames goes against the company’s policies, but it remains prevalent on the ‘black market,’ according to TechCrunch. The practice of selling desirable usernames has also attracted hackers in the past, with a teenager being arrested in 2020 for hacking high-profile accounts, including that of Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Barack Obama and more, to sell them.

Further, as reported by TechCrunch, the idea of selling usernames comes as popular messaging app Telegram announced in October that it would start auctioning both individual accounts and channels, through a ‘TON’ blockchain marketplace.

Elsewhere, Musk revealed plans for a Twitter UI overhaul earlier this week. Read more about it here.

Source: The New York Times, Via: TechCrunch